It took a bit of doing via different internet vendors and a bit of shopping at the local hobby shop, but the 450TT is back together and, I daresay, better than ever.

Oddly enough, a genuine Align tail boom fit poorly - it was too tight a fit - and didn't look as good as the original. Hobby King was sold out of the "Mighty Morphin Power Ranger" canopies, hardly surprising at less than three bucks a pop compared to $23 for a fiberglass Align unit...which also didn't seem to fit as well.

I found a domestic source for the parts including the canopy, namely Xheli.com. They had the the EXI brand parts for just a little more than Hobby King. OK, so the tail boom now says "EXI-HOBBY." Whee.

So, my little clone is now sporting some Align goodies, namely the torque tube, mainshaft, feathering shaft, feathering shaft dampers and skids, which are now white instead of black. Makes a BIG difference in the air. Looks classy, too.

All else is well, except overtightening the the prop retainer nuts on the quadcopter after losing one (nearly $20 to replace it with tax and shipping) caused two of the the props to fail as I was taking off. Solution: APC slow-flyer props! Normal rotation, reverse rotation.

I have some quad props from another mail order source on the way, but for now, the quad flies great on the APC's with a little bit of help from the brass bushings on the original props.

Until next time...have fun flying!